How Decitabine Works

Decitabine is a member of a new class of drugs known as DNA "demethylating" agents. Methylation of DNA is a major mechanism that regulates gene expression in cells. When there is an increase in DNA methylation this can result in the blockage of the activity of "suppressor genes" that regulate cell division and growth. When suppressor genes are blocked, cell division becomes unregulated, allowing or promoting cancer.
Decitabine's anticancer effects are believed to be twofold. One way that it works is by demethylation or interfering with the methylation of DNA. By this process of demethylation, normal function to the tumor suppressor genes is restored, thus restoring control over cell growth.
Decitabine also belongs to the category of chemotherapy called antimetabolites. Antimetabolites are very similar to normal substances within the cell. When the cells incorporate these substances into the cellular metabolism, they interact with a number of targets within the cell to produce a direct cytotoxic effect that causes death of rapidly dividing cancer cells.